This morning, I was still asleep, but could tell that I wasn't alone in the room. I reached out in the Force to sense who it was and relaxed some. It was one of the handmaidens that was assigned to me, while am here. She is very lucky that I can read thoughts too and like a lot of young ladies, her mind was on guys and one of the guys her thoughts was on was Anakin. She is also lucky that I didn't jump out of the bed, with my light saber in my hand.
" Good morning, My Lady. You are to meet your mother and sister for breakfast in about twenty minutes." the young girl said.
" Good morning. You are a new person, because I haven't seen you before" I said, slowly sitting up, because the side was still a little sore.
" Yes, My Lady. I started working here about a month ago, but I won't ever be on the elite force though. I'm just happy to be working here in the Palace." the young girl said, going over to the curtains and opening them up, to let the sun come through the windows.
" The elite force?" I said, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.
" The elite force are the handmaidens that are mostly around the Queen. They act as decoys, body guards and they also help her with the stuff I do, like getting your clothes ready, do your hair, things like that." the girl said, as she went over to the closet and began getting out some clothes that I'm going to wear for breakfast.
" I see. So,,since you are going to be working for me, I need to know your name" I asked, getting up, going to the chair and picking up my robe.
" Oh, sorry. My name is Kendalla." the girl said, hanging the clothes on the hook outside of the closet.
" It's nice to meet you, Kendalla. I'm Padme and can you please call me by my name. Unlike my sister, who loves titles, I don't like them. I guess you can say, it has something to do with the fact that I'm a Jedi. I don't have any needs for such titles." I said, looking for my slippers, but couldn't find them.
" Yes, Ma'am. Yes, your sister does love her titles. Your mother told me that you are a real princess" Kendalla said, looking at me confused, as she started making my bed.
" Yes, I'm a real princess, but... I gave up that title, when I joined the Jedi Order." I said, when I started to head out of the room and went into the living area.
" I see. When you are finished with your shower, just let me know and I'll help you get dressed. Is there anything that I can get you, in the mean time?" Kendalla asked, as she finished making the bed.
" Um... I do need a clean bacta patch for the wound that I have on my left side." I said, before heading into the refresher.
" I think that's not a problem. Be back in a few minutes, with the patch." Kendalla said, leaving the room to go and get the patch for me.
I got into the shower and was putting the shampoo in my hair, when I felt a presence in the apartment with me and it wasn't Kendalla.
" It's just me." Anakin said in my head.
" Oh, ok. Man, you almost got a face full of my saber." I said, as I let my breath out.
" Well, then, I'm glad I told you that I'm here." He said, going over to the couch and sitting down.
" So, what are you doing here?" I asked, as I felt Kendalla's present coming down the hallway.
" Well, I got bored hanging out in my room, so I thought I would come over here and see you. Oh, hello." Anakin said, in total surprise when Kendalla came back into the room.
" Oh, that's Kendalla. She is going to be my handmaiden, while we are here. She was having some dirty thoughts about what she would like to do with you." I said, shutting off the water and got out of the shower.
" Oh, ok." was all he said.
I grabbed the towel and dried off, before heading into the bedroom.
" Um... Padme, there is a guy in your living room" Kendalla said, coming into the bedroom, with the bacta patch.
" Yes, I know. That's Anakin, and before you start flirting with him, he is taken." I said, with a smile.
" I understand and don't worry about me flirting with him. I too have a boyfriend or I can say fiancée, as of last week." Kendalla said, as a huge smile came across her face.
" That's good news and congratulations. So, what does he do for a living?" I asked, sensing that the thoughts she had about Anakin, was just that; thoughts. Other thoughts came to her mind, of what she and her guy will be doing tonight. I shook my head to break away from those thoughts, then I noticed that she was holding out the bacta patch to me and I put it on my side.
" He is the cook's assistant, but he is in training for security." She said, handing me my under clothes.
" Really? In a way that's what I do. Now, Anakin, he is what we call in our Jedi Order, a Guardian-in-Training. What I do mostly, is diplomatic work, which means I work with a couple of senators. I act mostly like a bodyguard for them." I said, as Kendalla came over with the dress.
" Wow, you must have been all over the galaxy" Kendalla said ,as she began buttoning up the back of my dress.
" Yeah, I guess I have. To be honest, I really haven't been to that many places. Just keep my hair simple. Just braid it and then wrap it around my head." I said, sitting down at the vanity table and Kendalla began doing my hair.
" Hey, Padme, we need to hurry, if we want to have breakfast." Anakin said, coming into the bedroom.
" Hey, Anakin. This is Kendalla. Kendalla, this is Anakin. Since when do you care about being there on time? It would be the first... you know I'm kidding. Well, guess what? I'm now ready whenever you are." I said, getting up and going over to him and giving him a kiss.
" Well, most of the time I don't care, but this is your family. Oh man, you are so very beautiful. I love you so very much." Anakin said, pulling me into his arms very carefully.
" Thank you and you are looking very handsome too. I love you too." I said, standing on my tip-toes, as he leaned his head down and kissed me.
" Ok, you two. Time for breakfast. Um... hello, there." Obi-Wan said, coming into the bedroom and noticing Kendalla standing there shaking her head.
" Hello. You must be Master Kenobi. I'm Kendalla. I'm going to be Padme's handmaiden, while she is here at the Palace." Kendalla said, as she bowed her head to Obi-Wan, before walking passed me and Anakin.
" Hello, Kendalla. It's nice to meet you. Come on you two." Obi-Wan said, but this time he sounded a little more impatient.
" Ok, we are coming. So, get your underwear out of a wad." Anakin said, letting me go and we headed out of the of the room.
" Ok, now, that we are ready, please follow me and I'll take you to the dining room." Kendalla said, as she headed for the door, shaking her head in amusement.
We followed her down the hallway, to a large set of double doors at the end of the hallway. Kendalla knocked on the door and the door opened up, by one of Amidala's handmaidens.
" The Jedi are here to have breakfast, with Her Majesty and Lady Naberrie." Kendalla said, to the Chief of the Handmaidens, who nodded and opened the door further, letting us inside the room.
We walked into the room and we were very surprised to see how very modestly the room was decorated, from the public room that is downstairs.
" Padme, Obi-Wan and Anakin, please come in and have a seat, while we wait for breakfast." Amidala said, coming over to us and giving us each a hug.
" Careful, please." I said, as she gave me a hug.
" I know, your wound. So, how is it doing today?" she asked, as we headed over to the couch and sat down.
" It's doing better today. There is still a little bit of pain, when I move a certain way." I said, as both my parents came into the room.
" Oh, before I forget. I got this package, but it's addressed to you. So, why would it come here?" Amidala said, going over to her desk, opening the desk drawer and grabbing a small box.
" Really? I don't know who would have sent the package here and have it for me?" I said, as Amidala handed me the package.
" Oh, well, I'm not sure what it could be. Do you think it could have come from somebody who knew that you would come here?" Amidala said, sitting in the chair across from me, Anakin and Obi-Wan.
I opened up the box and low and behold, there was the Jedi Orange Crystal.
" Oh my ... This is the Crystal that was missing ... Um ... I know who sent this ... but the question is why?" I said, as my eyes began to tear up.
" Um ... Padme, there is a message cube." Anakin said, picking up the cube and handing it to me.
" Thanks. Well, let's see what she has to say and hopefully she will say why she sent the Crystal here." I said, putting the cube on the small table and the vision of Lily came up.
" Padme, wasn't that your late Jedi Master?" Amidala asked, as she looked at the cube.
" Yes, that was Lily, before Gabrieel killed her." I said, as I looked down at the cube.
" Hey, Padme. If you are seeing this message, then you will know that my surprise for you has been ruined. All thanks to Gabrieel. He was the one who stole the Crystal from the jeweler and who was holding the Crystal for your Grandfather. I had to sneak into the warehouse and take the Crystal back, and the only place I knew where Gabrieel and his buddies wouldn't look and it would be safe, was here on Naboo, with your sister. I had bought the Crystal from your Grandfather, so that way, I could give it to you, when you passed your Trails. I had this feeling that Gabrieel would learn that I had taken the Crystal from him. He would come after me and all the cargo that was on my ship, all to get the Crystal back. It's getting late and I need to get some sleep. Congratulations on everything you do in your life, and you're the best person that I'm glad to have known. Lily." the message ended and I just sat there in total shock, because she totally believed that I was ready for the Jedi Trails.
" Wow." was all I could say.
" She is right, Padme. I too feel that you are ready for the Trails." Obi-Wan said, with a huge smile on his face.
" Thanks, Obi-Wan." I said, as the butler came into the room.
" Breakfast is served, Your Majesty." he said, as he looked at Amidala, as he bowed his head.
" Well, come on everybody. It's time to eat." Amidala said, getting up from the chair and heading for the dining room.
We got up, followed her and took our seats at the table.
" Oh man, we are going to be missing Grandma and Grandpa's wedding Anniversary party tonight." I said, as the butler and some of the kitchen staff served us our breakfast.
" Damn, that's right. Well, I guess we are just going to have to send them a message." My father said, as he took a sip of his Caf.
" Ok. Man, I was really looking forward to being there, because everybody was going to be there too." I said, as one of the maids poured my tea for me.
" I know and I too wanted to be there, but with the problem that just came up,that has put a stop to that trip." Amidala, said buttering her toast.
" So, what are you doing after breakfast, Padme." my Mom asked, as she took a sip of her tea.
" I need to meditate today. I have a lot of stuff running in my head and it's giving me a headache." I said, taking a bite of my omelet.
" I hate it when you have those headaches. I hope that you can clear up this headache and it goes away." Mom said, as she gave me a smile.
" Yeah, I know." I said, as we all ate our breakfast and made small talk about things that has been going on in our lives.
After breakfast, I got up and was about to head to my room, so that way, I could get out of my dress, when the butler came up to me.
" Excuse me, my Lady, but there is a call for you, from a Jedi Master Windu." the butler said, as he came up to me.
" Thank you. I'll take in my room." I said, giving him a thank you nod.
" Very well, my lady. I'll patch it to your rooms." He said, bowing his head.
" I wonder what he has for us?" Anakin said, as we made our way to my room.
" I don't know, but I do hope it is something that we can use in our investigation." I said, opening the door and walked into the room.
Going over to the desk, I hit the com-link button that was flashing, to let us know that there was a call waiting for me.
" Morning, Master Windu" I said, hitting the button and Master Windu came into view.
" Well, it's really night here. I have some news for you. Do you remember those two traders? Well, it turns out that they are not traders, they are really agents. They were hired to get the Crystal back to the owner. They had told us that it was Lily, who had contacted them and had set up a meeting with them on Coruscant, so that way, she could hand over the Crystal to them. Then, they could give it back to the King of Corellia, but we all know is that she never made it to that meeting, and the Crystal is still missing. They also said it was for a present for the King's Granddaughter and they were to hand it over to him in about three weeks, for a surprise party to congratulate her for some kind of Trails that she has to go thru. We all know that has all now changed, when she died." Master Windu said, as he lit some candles, so that way, he could start his night time meditations.
" Um ... really? Well, you can tell them that the Crystal is safe. Lily sent it here to Naboo and I have it in my hands, as we speak. The Crystal is a present, but it's not from the King of Corellia, who is my Grandfather and the present is from Lily. She had bought them as a present to say congratulations for passing the Trails and entering the Knighthood." I said, as I felt my eyes began to tear up.
" I see. So, she believes that you are ready for the Trails, then?" He said, raising an eyebrow at me. " Um ... yes, sir. She had said so, and even Master Obi-Wan has said so too." I said, giving him a somewhat smile.
" I see. Well, then, guess what? I too believe that you are ready for the Trails." he said, with a huge smile.
" Thank you, Master." I said, returning his smile, with my eyes welling up with happy tears.
" Time for meditation before bed time. So, I'll let you go and do whatever it was you were going to do." he said, as he raised his eyebrows, because he saw Anakin standing behind me.
" Yes, it's meditation time, and that's what I'm about to do myself. May the Force be with You, Master." I said, before shutting of the Com-Link.
" May the Force be with the both of you and Anakin." he said, with a nod, before shutting off his com-link.
" Well, I guess, it's time we tell Obi-Wan what we have learned" Anakin said, coming up to me,pulling up from the chair and wrapping his arms around me and kissing me.
" It can wait, but Anakin, I really do need to meditate. There is really no privacy here, like there is on Corellia. Plus, I'm still sore in my side." I said, just as there was a knock on the door.
" You're right about the private part." Anakin said, as he let go of me and went over to the couch and sat down.
" Come in." I called out, as I put the Crystal in the desk drawer.
" You ready to meditate, Padme? Um ... Anakin, you don't look ready." Obi-Wan said, coming into the room.
" I will be ready in a couple of minutes, but I need Anakin for a few seconds. Then, I'll send him to his room, so he can get ready to meditate with us too." I said, pulling Anakin by the arm towards the bedroom.
" Not with ..." Anakin started to say.
" Ok. Then, come here and turn around." Anakin said, as I came up to him and turned around and he began to unbutton my dress.
" After meditating, I will need to lay down, until it's time for lunch and try to get rid of this headache." I said, as I felt Anakin place a couple of kisses on my bare shoulders.
" Ok. There you go, baby and I'll see you in a little bit. Love you, Padme so very much." Anakin said, as I turned to face him. He leaned down and kissed me one last time, before heading for the bedroom door.
" Thank you and I love you so very much too." I said, letting he dress fall to the floor and I stood there in my underwear.
Anakin left the room and headed for his room, to change his clothes too.
After three hours of meditation, we went inside, just in time for lunch. This time it's only with Amidala, me, Anakin and Obi-Wan and we sat down at a small table, out on the balcony that over looks the ocean.
" I can't wait for two weeks." Amidala said, as she took a small bite of her salad.
" What's going on in two weeks?" I asked, taking a sip of my tea.
" The Senator's Ball on Coruscant." Amidala said, as she had dreamy look came across her face.
" Damn, I forgot about that stupid party. How come you are going? The only reason why I'm going, is because I'm representing the Jedi. Well, me and two other girls and our escorts." I said, looking at Anakin, who just nodded at me.
" Well, the new Queen wants me to go, to represent Naboo. My term as Queen ends four days before the party and she begged me." Amidala said.
" Well, to be honest, I'm really thinking about not even going." I said, eating the last bit of my Nerf steak.
" Not going to the party? Please go, Padme. I wont know anybody there at the party, so pretty please, go for me?" Amidala began to beg me.
" Ok, I'll go, but just for you." I said, as I finished my lunch.
" Thank you. Well, I guess it's time to get back to work. What about you,, Padme?" Amidala said, as she got up from the table.
" I'm going to lay down, after I change this patch." I said, also getting up from the table.
Amidala nodded, as we went are separate ways, for the rest of the day.
" Well, I have to go to my quarters and be in a council meeting. What about you, Anakin?" Obi-Wan, asked having a feeling that he wasn't going to be by himself.
" I'm going to lay down too." Anakin said, as we made it to Obi-Wan's room.
He nodded and went into his room. I grabbed Anakin's hand and led him down the hallway to my room. Once in the room, we got undressed, climbed into bed and Anakin pulled me into his arms and we fell sound asleep.